Bruce Bonafiglia
President

Since joining the company in 1975 as an apprentice dental technician, Bruce Bonafiglia, CDT, has steadily charted BonaDent along a course of expansive growth and modernization, solidifying the laboratory’s reputation as one of the finest in the industry. In fact, BonaDent ranks among the top 2 independently owned dental laboratories in the United States.

In his early years, Bruce worked alongside his father and BonaDent founder, Angelo, cleaning denture flasks and polishing dentures. After school and during summer breaks of his teenage years, he dabbled in ceramics and by the age of 21, Bruce earned the distinction of Certified Dental Technician and became nationally certified in ceramics and crown and bridge.

Bruce became president of the company in 1986 when his father retired. The following year, Bruce purchased a two-technician dental lab in Indialantic, Florida. Within ten years both laboratories grew to employ over 200 people.

Capitalizing on the momentum of growth, Bruce moved the laboratory to a facility he designed in Seneca Falls, New York. The lab boasts many firsts to the industry, but the most unique and valuable design element in the laboratory is its state-of-the-art training center, which is available to technicians and dentists alike. The ability to train our technicians and dentists on-site brings advantages that few laboratories in the United States can afford.

In 2005, Bruce opened Danaren Dental Laboratory, located right next door on the same property. Danaren’s mission is two-fold: First, to compete against offshore outsourcing. Second, to help bolster the local economy by employing a local workforce that produces lower-cost restorations. Dentists who might otherwise be inclined to send cases overseas in order to save money now have an affordable domestic option. Danaren allows for skilled employees to further hone their lab skills within the Danaren professional environment, and when they’ve achieved a degree of mastery in their work, technicians are given the opportunity to join the BonaDent team.

Throughout his personal and professional tenure, Bruce has remained steadfast in his commitment to supporting his profession, his community and his family. He has been actively involved in the overall advancement of dental technicians and is one of the dental industry’s greatest proponents.

Family and tradition are important to Bruce. The family-owned lab will continue exist as such into the future, now that the third generation has entered the family business. Bruce’s daughters, Daniele Bonafiglia Wirth and Erin Bonafiglia have joined their father at BonaDent and Danaren respectfully. Even Bruce’s grandchildren Gabriella and Harrison spend their days down the hall in the laboratory’s on-site daycare center. 

In addition to spending time with his wife Lisa, his family and friends, Bruce enjoys competing in triathlons and marathons and is a two-time Ford Ironman, having also completed three half-Ironman events.